Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

The aim of Environmental Impact Assessment is to protect the environment by ensuring that a local planning authority when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project, which is likely to have significant effects on the environment, does so in the full knowledge of the likely significant effects, and takes this into account in the decision making process. The regulations set out a procedure for identifying those projects which should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment, and for assessing, consulting, and coming to a decision on those projects which are likely to have significant environmental effects.

The main benefits of EIA are:

• Improved project design / siting
• More informed decision making with improved opportunities for public involvement in decision making.
• More environmentally sensitive decisions;
• Increased accountability and transparency during the development process;
• Improved integration of projects into their environmental and social setting;
• Reduced environmental damage;
• More effective projects in terms of meeting their financial and/or socio-economic objectives; and
• A positive contribution towards achieving sustainability

Who should we sell it to?

• Construction
• Operational plant and facilities

Who should we discuss it with?

Construction Managers, Operations Manager, Project directors, HSE Managers, Environmental managers, or engineers.

Why clients want to do it?

• It’s a legal requirement, enforced by Ashghal, QP, LRDC
• To protect the environment and avoid and complaints, legal actions, etc.
• Environmental protection initiative

Why hire a consultant?

• Mandatory by some clients to use a third party
• Some clients do not have internal resources to develop
• Specialized knowledge of the environmental consultant on EIA process